Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-05

pectation of encountering some form of the
perils Astounding there. But she became
calm, almost joyous, as she passed through
mile after mile of tranquil landscape. The
war might as well have been on the other side
of the Atlantic for any hint she now saw of
it in the peaceful, suniit fields and woods, and
streams of crystal spring water.
The serenity everywhere intoxicated her
with half belief that the terrible Confeder-
ate army at Murfreesboro was only night
mare of fear oppressed brains, and in her re-
lief she was ready TO burst out in echo of q
triumphant hymn ringing from weaving
shed at her right.
Her impulse was checked by seeing ap-
proaeh figure harshly dissonant to Arcadian
surroundings
TWAS young man riding powerful roam
horse at an easy gallop, and carrying In his
hand, ready for instant use, a l6-shootlng
Henry rife He was evidently scout, but,
as was usual with that class his uniform was
so equally made up of blue and gray that it
was impossible TO tell to which side he be
longed. lie refined up as be saw Rachel, and
looked at her for a moment in way that
chilled her. They were now ON a lonely bit
of road, out of sight and hearing of any per-
son or house. All woman's fears rose up in
her heart but she shut her lips firmly and
rode directly toward the scout Another
thought seemed to enter his mind; he touched
his horse up with his heel and rode by her,
saying courteously:
Good morning, mis-" but cycling her in
tently as they passed She returned the saluta-
ton with a firm voice, and rode onward, but
at a little distance could not resist the temp
tation TO turn and look backward. To her
horror the scout had stopped, half turned his
horse, and was watching her as If debating
whether or not 10 come back after her She
| yielded 10 the impulse of the fear, struck
her mare singing blow, and the animal
| flew away.
Her fright subsidized as she heard no hoof
| beats following her, and when raised her
| ewes, she saw that she was approaching the
village of Lavergne, half way to Murfrces
| boro, and that party of Confederate cavalry
was moving toward her. She felt less tremor
| at this first sight of the armed enemy than she
had expected, after her panic over the scout,
and rode toward the horsemen with perfect
outward, and no little inward composure.
The lieutenant in command raised his hat
with the greatest gallantry.
Good morning, miss. From the city, |
SUPPOSE he inquired.
Yes" she answered III tones as even as if
| speaking in a parlor; fortunately, | am at
last from the city ] have been trying to get
away ever since it seemed hopeless that our
| people would not redeem it soon"
Tie conversation thus opened was carried
on by Rachel giving copous and disparaging
| inf nd
| the lieutenant listening in admiration TO the
musical accents, interruptlng them but rarely
| to interlect question or a favorable com
| ment. He was as little critical as ardent
| Young men are apt 10 be of the statements of
| captivating young women and Rachcls
| spirits rose as she Ssw thai the worst she had
| to fear from this enemy was an excess of de
| votion The story of her aGmt at Murfrees-
horo received unhcsitatiIis acceptance. and
nothing but imperative s-uutin. orders pre-
| vented his cscortinG her 10 the town He
| would, however, scn0 il n0n-cummlssioned
| officer with her who would se that she was
not nolested lay an, une lie requested per
mission to call upon her At her aunt's, which
Rachel was compelled to grant, for lack of
| any ready excuse for suaH contingency.
With this, and many smiles and bows, they
parted
All the afternoon she rode through camps
of men i'll gray and hltter;.ut, as she had
ridden through thOs" OF men ii blue in the
| morning In these Is in the others. she
heard gay songs, dance music md laughter,
and saw thousands OF merry boys rollicking
in the sunshine at camr> Ct ball and other
sports, with the joyous earnestneSs of q
school house playground She tried. but in
vain, to realize that in il few days these
thoughtless youths would he the demons OF
the battlefield
Just before dusk she came to the top of a
low limestone ridge, and saw, three miles
away, the lights of Murfreeshoro. At that
moment Fortner appeared, jogging leisurely
toward her, mounted on a splendid horse
oh, there's my Cousin jim" She exclaimed
gleefully, coming to meet me. Sergeant
am deeply obliged TO you and to your heuten,
ant for your company, and l will try to show
my appreciation Of it IN the future in some
way more substantial than words You need
not go airy farther with me | know that
both you and your horse are very tired
Good-by."
The sergeant was only too glad of this re-
lease, which gave him ali opportunity to get
back TO camp, TO enjoy some good cheer that
he knew was there ami bidding a hasty good
night, be left at a trot.
Former and Rachel rode ga slowly up the
pike, traversIng the ground that was soon &c
run red with the blood of thousands
They talked Of the fearful probabilities Of
the next few days. and halted for some min
utes on the bridge across Stone river, to study
the wonderfully picturesque scene spread out
before them.
Shortly after crossing the river they passed
large tent, with n number of others clus
tered around it All were festooned with
Confederate flags and brilliantly lighted. A
band came up in front of the principal one
and played the Bonnie Blue Flag
"That's ole Gineral BraSg's headquarters,
said Fortner. Hes the king bee of all the
Confederates in these hcah parts. an they
think he kin bout make the sun stand still ei
he wants ter
They cantered on into the town. and going
more slowly through the great public square
and the more crowded streets, came at last t.
modest house. standing en- a corner, ant
nearly hidden by vines and shrubbery.
A peculiar knock caused the door TO oper
quickly, and before Rachel was hardly awart
of it, she was standing inside comfortable
room, SO well lighted that her eyes took som,
little time to get used to such a change
When they did so she saw that she was il
the presence of slender, elderly woman
whose face charmed her.
"This is yer Aunt Debby Brill said Fort
ner, dryly, "who We came so fur fur ter see
an who's bin 'spectin' We quite anxiously.'
"Ye're very welcome, my dear" said Aun
Debby after a moments inspection, which
seemed to be entirely satisfactory jest Ia,
off yer things thar on the bed an come gu
ter supper. know yere sharp set. A rid
from Nashville sech day ez this is mout,
good for the appetite. an we've he'd suppe
waitin ye."
Hastily throwing of her hal and gloves SD
sal down with the rest to 4 homclv but excel
lent supper, which they all ate in silence
During the meal muscular, well knit maj
of 80 entered
| aA1l rlar oitGida piIIkr nuLaI E,,rtrn,